Process for converting hydrocarbons



Oct. 12 1926.

R. T. POLLOCK PROCESS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBONS Filed Nov. 25, 1919 Patented Oct. '1 2 1926.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT '1. POLLOCK, OF BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

rnocnss ron CONVERTING r rYoRocAaBoNs.

Application filed November 25, 1919. Serial No. 339,782.

. outgoing vapors) and is then vaporized; to

provide a process of the character last referred to in which certain of the vapors,- towit, the heavier ones, are subjected to a reflux condensing action and are then preferably continuously returned to the body of fresh incoming charging stock in regulated qlillantities; to provide a process in which t coil and vapors are maintained under a regulated vapor pressure; both during distillation and condensation, and in which gasoline of a substantially given end point or boiling point may be produ'ced;'to provide'certain improvements in simplification and efliciency of operation, and in general to provide an improved process of the character described.

Tomore clearly understand the invention; I'have shown in the accompanying drawing a somewhat diagrammatic view, Llustrating .the apparatus. I

Describing this drawing in detail, 1 desig nates the furnace in whichis mounted a coil 2,'which serves as the cracking zone. Above the coil 2 is positioned a vapor chamber or 40 expansion chamber 3, which is connected to.

the coil by the pipe 4. The vapors pass from the upper end of the chamber 3 to a riser or vapor'line 5 in which is positioned a valve 6. The vapor chamber .is also r0.- vided with a residuum drawofl' 7, provided with a throttle valve 8.

The delivery end of the vapor line 5 is connectedto the lower portion of a 'reflux' condenser or dephlegmator 9. This de- 56 phle atot' is provided with aseries of baflles 10 .0 any desired form or construction. The

uncondensed vapors pass from the upper .end of the dephlegmator through pipe 11-. into a water condenser 12. This watercoudenser '12isprejerably similar to a vertical" tube boiler, the construction being generally shown in the drawin and the water passing through the tubes an the oil vapors around the tubes. The condensed vapors pass from the lower end of the condenser 12 to a 'receivin tank 13, whichtank is provided 1 with llquid drawofi 14, controlled by valve 15 and gas outlet 16, controlled by valve 17.

Pressure valve 18 is also provided.

Describing now the manner in which the fresh raw charging/stock is fed to the apparatus, it is drawn from any suitable source of supply through pipe .19 by. means of pump 20, The pump delivers it under pres sure to line 21 which leads upwardlyato the upper end of the dephlegmator 9. as shown at 22. A throttle valve 23 is interposed. in .the line 21. The oil which passes into the dephlegmator is, of course, preheated by the rising vaporsand in turn tends to .ft irther assist the reflex condensing action.

If desired, however, the raw oil may itself be preheated before it reaches the charging pump 20. The fresh oil and the refluxfcondensate will pass to areducedextensio'n 24 connected to the lower end of the dephlegmator 9. From this by line -25'the charging stock and reflux condensate reaches the in ct of the cracking coil 2. Any excess of a. mixture of raw, oil and condensate will pass through line 26 into the tank'27. This tank 27 is provided at its lower end with a drawoif line 28 controlled by valve 29, leading to any suitable recelving tank. The valve 29 is in the preferable operation, closed.

A second line 30 leads from the tank 27 to asecond pump 31. This line 30 is also provided with a control valve 32. -The pump 31 is connected by branch pipe 33 to Leo the charging line 21. This charglng line- 21 is provided at its lower end with an extension 34, which is secured to the line 30 and is provided with a control valve 35.

The arrangement is such that by regulating the valve 35, the amount of a mixture of raw oil and condensate pumped into the line 21 can be controlled. In other words, to the... extent that the'valve .35 is open, the oil coIning from the line 30 will circulate from 30 ll thmughthe pump 31, line 33 and back through valve '35-toline 30.or rise through pi '21" and retupnto the dephlegmator. followi illustrative run may be given: Gas oil 111 say, the Kansas field, ll

of 32 B. may be delivered to, the charging pump and thence by line 21 tov the dephlegmator in the manner heretofore described. The oil, as it passes through the crack ng tubes 2 is heated to an oil temperatureof 750"F. and maintained under a pres- V sure 130 lbs. This pressure is maintained throughout the system by suitably controlling the various outlet valves in the drawolf lines. From to of this gas oil may be thus converted into substantially 400 end point gasoline of say, 56 to 58 B..

gravity. v r

g It is to be noted thatthe regulated'quantities of oilwhich are'subjected to-the dephlegmator are constantly being returned .to the charging line for proper treatment. Also that they may or may not again pass through the ephlegmator, depending upon the manner in which-the valves are regulated. For example, the fresh. oil may all cooling me insufficiently from sulficiently cracked va pass up through the line 21 but none off-it may cut back to either pump, by tightly closing the valves 32, 35 and 39 andshuttlng ofl' thepump3l. I claim as my invention:

1. A dephlegmating process for separatin insufiiciently cracked vapors. from the su fiiciently cracked vapors while said vapors are-passing through adephlegmator,

pors, which comprises passing the vapors through a dephlegmator, in continuously mediummoving in a circulating a coolin stream in a closed rmg, a portion of which 'ring includes the dephlegmator where the cooling 'medium is brought in heat interchanging relationship with the vapors, in removing a portion of the cooling medium from the ring, and in replacing the removed portion with fresh cooling medium 'intro-.

duced to the ring from a source extraneous i .of the ring. Y

3. In a process for dephlegmatin oil vapors wherein the vapors are introduced to a dephlegmator having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, in" which dephlegmator the cracked vapors are separated from the, insufficiently cracked, vapors, the steps consisting in continuously circulating a cooling liquid in a closed rin a portion of which ring includes the dep egmator, where the cooling liquid is'in heat interchange relationship with the vapors, and in removing a portion of the liquid. from the ring, and replacing the removed portion with fresh cooling liquid from a source extraneous of the ring.

4.1a a proce'ssfor dephlegmating vapors wherein oilvapors are introduced to a dc.- phlegmator having a vapor inlet and avapor outlet, in which dephlegmator cracked vapors are separated from the insufliciently cracked vapors, the process consistin in continuously circulating-a cooling me ium of oil in a closedring, a poi'tion 'of which ring includes the dephlegmator where the vapors are'brought n heat interchanging relationship with the cooling medium, in removing a portion of oil from the rin and in continuously replacing the; remove portion with fresh cooling medium from a source extraneous of the ring.

ROBERT T. roLLooK. 

